Carlos Boozer To Replace J. Oneal on Olympic Team

[arthurracoon]

CBSSportsline:

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/7400717

The U.S. team now includes James, Boozer, Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson, Richard Jefferson, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire and Tim Duncan. Only Duncan and Marion have extensive international experience, but no one on the roster has played in an Olympics.

Brown would like to add veterans Ben Wallace and Reggie Miller to the squad -- and perhaps a few more kids.

Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Miami's Dwyane Wade are two of the players most often mentioned.

 

[elindholm]

So the team is going to have, what, two current All-Stars on it? This should be interesting.

 

[Chaz]

I think the whole thing has become a little ridiculous.

It is the U.S. National team and they have to go around "begging" people to play?

I think they should have a team and coaching staff that stays together and every player should have to try out, or at least show some commitment besides lip service to be included.

Stoudemire and Boozer played well together in the Rookie game last All Star weekend.

 

[Ryanwb]

Brian Cardinal and Mark Madsen are now the alternates

 

[Yuma]

They need Carmelo or someone else who can make a bucket from the outside.

 

[F-Dog]

So the team is going to have, what, two current All-Stars on it? This should be interesting.

If you mean, 'we're going to lose', then I agree.

Boozer is a decent pickup for the national team, though. His rebounding is something they should be able to count on when he's in there, and IMO that kind of defined skill is important in a single-elimination format.

 

[Joe Mama]

They need Carmelo or someone else who can make a bucket from the outside.

they need Michael Redd. He would be perfect for the Olympics because he is an accurate shooter with a quick release.

If you mean, 'we're going to lose', then I agree.

Boozer is a decent pickup for the national team, though. His rebounding is something they should be able to count on when he's in there, and IMO that kind of defined skill is important in a single-elimination format.

perhaps as importantly, Boozer has a decent 10-15 foot jump shot. If this team wins a gold-medal Larry Brown is a basketball genius.

Joe Mama

 

[sly fly]

I'm beginning to really like this team.

- Carlos Boozer is a solid addition. Talk about a guy who's made the media eat crow. They said he was too fat and unmotivated to do anything at Duke. And, they said the same thing coming into the NBA.

I love stories like this.

- Michael Redd would be another solid addition. A zone-buster supreme.

- This team is full of hard-nosed athletic players. I don't think they'll let us down.

- Screw you Shaq. Screw you Garnett. One of these days you'll put down the joysticks and become real men.

 

[George O'Brien]

One thing about this team, with fewer "stars" it may actually play like a team.

The original Dream Team was unique. They not only had 11 of the best players of their period - they had 11 of the greatest players in the history of the game. They were so good they did not have to prove it to anyone and were anxious to make the extra pass. They wanted to prove to each other that they could play as a team and they were awsome.

The "stars" that followed were not only not as good, they were not as unselfish either. I think this team will be more likely to buy into what Larry Brown is preaching than some of the guys that dropped out. They may even play some defense.

 

[Chaz]

One thing about this team, with fewer "stars" it may actually play like a team.

The original Dream Team was unique. They not only had 11 of the best players of their period - they had 11 of the greatest players in the history of the game. They were so good they did not have to prove it to anyone and were anxious to make the extra pass. They wanted to prove to each other that they could play as a team and they were awsome.

The "stars" that followed were not only not as good, they were not as unselfish either. I think this team will be more likely to buy into what Larry Brown is preaching than some of the guys that dropped out. They may even play some defense.

Excellent post, I feel the same way. I would rather see young unestablished players that want to be there and participate in and play as a team than selfish prima donnas that like to showboat and show people up.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

They need Carmelo or someone else who can make a bucket from the outside.

Yah, Carmelo was the epitomy of an accurate shooter all season long........

 

[arthurracoon]

I'm beginning to really like this team.

- Carlos Boozer is a solid addition. Talk about a guy who's made the media eat crow. They said he was too fat and unmotivated to do anything at Duke. And, they said the same thing coming into the NBA.

I love stories like this.

- Michael Redd would be another solid addition. A zone-buster supreme.

- This team is full of hard-nosed athletic players. I don't think they'll let us down.

- Screw you Shaq. Screw you Garnett. One of these days you'll put down the joysticks and become real men.

 

[arthurracoon]

One thing about this team, with fewer "stars" it may actually play like a team.

The original Dream Team was unique. They not only had 11 of the best players of their period - they had 11 of the greatest players in the history of the game. They were so good they did not have to prove it to anyone and were anxious to make the extra pass. They wanted to prove to each other that they could play as a team and they were awsome.

The "stars" that followed were not only not as good, they were not as unselfish either. I think this team will be more likely to buy into what Larry Brown is preaching than some of the guys that dropped out. They may even play some defense.

 

[Joe Mama]

Arthur, how many of your 4500 posts are that little character giving the thumbs up or "*sigh*"? My guess is at least 3000 of them.

Joe Mama

 

[Chaz]

Yah, Carmelo was the epitomy of an accurate shooter all season long........

....not to mention a model of maturity.

 

[arthurracoon]

Arthur, how many of your 4500 posts are that little character giving the thumbs up or "*sigh*"? My guess is at least 3000 of them.

Joe Mama

 

[F-Dog]

One thing about this team, with fewer "stars" it may actually play like a team.

I don't think there are fewer stars on the Nat'l team, just lesser stars. Marbury, Iverson, Amare, LeBron, 'Melo and Dwyane Wade aren't exactly role players on their own teams, and it remains to be seen whether each of them can become role players for the Olympics, or whether the team will just flounder like 2002.

There's also not nearly enough outside shooting on the team, given the rules and circumstances.

 

[George O'Brien]

I don't think there are fewer stars on the Nat'l team, just lesser stars. Marbury, Iverson, Amare, LeBron, 'Melo and Dwyane Wade aren't exactly role players on their own teams, and it remains to be seen whether each of them can become role players for the Olympics, or whether the team will just flounder like 2002.

There's also not nearly enough outside shooting on the team, given the rules and circumstances.

Boozer and Marion are two complementary players and LeBron is certain a team player. As long as Larry doesn't do something stupid like put Marbury and Iverson on the court at the same time (two balls would not be enough), this should be a competative team.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

As long as Larry doesn't do something stupid like put Marbury and Iverson on the court at the same time (two balls would not be enough), this should be a competative team.

In case you didn't remember, the Iverson/Marbury backcourt almost won the allstar game in 2001 for the east.

(Not that I am sayingthe lineup would be a good idea, although you def cant guard it)